All About History: Book of the First World War

180 Pages·2016·35.51 MB·English

by  Collective

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BOOK OF THE
There is no doubt that the First World War shaped the
world in which we live today. There are those who believe the
First World War should never have happened, those who feel
it was absolutely necessary and those by whom it is quietly
remembered. Few remain untouched by its memory. Given
the number of countries involved and the unimaginable loss
of life, such a long-lasting impact was inevitable. In fact, today
we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the
Somme with this brand new edition. We will explore the
First World War through key events, signifi cant battles and
infl uential fi gures, while discovering the knock-on effect to
everyday life on the Home Front. The words and images are
accompanied by historical artefacts that will paint a picture of
what life was like during the First World War – both at home
and on the front line.

BOOK OF THE
Imagine Publishing Ltd
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Aaron Asadi
Head of Design
Ross Andrews
Production Editor
Fiona Hudson
Written by
Gary Sheffield
Senior Art Editor
Greg Whitaker
Designer
Perry Wardell-Wicks
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William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT
Distributed in the UK, Eire & the Rest of the World by
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Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the
post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may
be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are
recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has
endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.
This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
This bookazine is published under licence from Carlton Publishing Group Limited.
All rights in the licensed material belong to Carlton Publishing Limited and it
may not be reproduced, whether in whole or in part, without the prior written
consent of Carlton Publishing Limited. ©2016 Carlton Publishing Limited.
Text copyright: Gary Sheffield
The content in this book appeared previously in the Carlton book The First World War Remembered
All About History Book Of The First World War Third Edition © 2016 Imagine Publishing Ltd
Part of the
bookazine series
MAP KEY
Common symbols used on maps in this book
NATIONAL COLOURS
British, Dominion & Empire
French Belgian
German American
SIZE OF MILITARY UNITS
XXXX XXX XX
Army Corps Division
X III II
Brigade Regiment Battalion
MILITARY TYPES
Infantry Tanks Cavalry
MILITARY SYMBOLS
XXXXX Army group boundary line
XXXX Army boundary line
XXX Corps boundary line
XX Division boundary line
Troops attacking
Unsuccessful attack
Planned withdrawal
6
SEE EXHIBIT
SECTIONS
THROUGHOUT
THE BOOK
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................8 LITERARY INFLUENCES ....................................94
SLIDE TOWARDS CONFLICT ..............................10 THE DIPLOMACY OF WAR .................................96
MOBILIZATION ......................................................12 THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME ...........................98
BATTLE OF THE FRONTIERS .............................14 THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME .........................100
MONS AND LE CATEAU ........................................16 FRENCH CHANGE OF COMMAND ..................116
THE MARNE AND THE AISNE ............................18 THE BATTLE OF ARRAS ....................................118
THE BATTLE OF TANNENBERG ........................22 THE NIVELLE OFFENSIVE ................................120
THE FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES ...........................26 THE BATTLE OF MESSINES ..............................122
THE WAR AGAINST TURKEY .............................28 REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA ...................................124
WAR IN AFRICA .....................................................32 THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES .......................126
THE WAR AT SEA ..................................................46 PASSCHENDAELE ................................................128
1915 SPRING OFFENSIVES .................................48 TRENCH LIFE ........................................................130
THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES .....................50 LOCAL ACTIONS ..................................................134
EASTERN FRONT BATTLES ................................52 THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI ...............................136
TOTAL WAR .............................................................54 GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE ........................138
AUTUMN 1915 BATTLES ......................................56 GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE .......................140
BRITISH COMMAND .............................................58 THE WAR IN THE AIR .........................................142
THE SALONIKA CAMPAIGN ..............................60 SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE ..................156
THE BATTLE OF VERDUN ..................................70 HAMEL AND AMIENS .........................................158
THE BATTLE OF VERDUN ...................................72 SPECIALISTS ........................................................160
IRELAND ..................................................................74 ALLIES ON THE ADVANCE ................................162
CAMPAIGNS IN MESOPOTAMIA .......................76 THE USA ENTERS THE WAR ............................164
THE ITALIAN FRONT ............................................78 THE AMERICAN OFFENSIVES .........................166
THE EASTERN FRONT ........................................80 THE GRAND OFFENSIVE ...................................168
THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND .................................82 THE FINAL BATTLES ..........................................172
CAMPAIGNS IN PALESTINE ..............................84 AFTERMATH AND LEGACY ..............................174
BATTLES IN ITALY................................................86
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC ......................................88
EMPIRES AT WAR .................................................90
THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN WAR..........................92 BIBLIOGRAPHY & CREDITS .............................178
7
The First World War
INTRODUCTION
T
he single event that more than any other can be said to have French meddling in the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. German Nazism,
shaped the world we live in is the First World War. The Second Italian Fascism and Soviet Communism were all by-products of the
World War grew out of the First. It was not a “given” that a second First World War.
great war would occur, but there was sufficient unfinished business from The generals of the war still excite passionate debates, with
1914–18 to make it likely. The global spread of the First World War was individuals lined up for and against. Haig and Pétain remain
such that almost no part was left untouched, either directly or indirectly. controversial figures, although for very different reasons; and
The resources of great empires were mobilized to fight a total war. Soldiers historians still debate the merits of Conrad, Foch, French, Pershing,
came from tropical North Queensland and West Africa to fight for Britain Brusilov, Kemel, Joffre, Currie and Monash as commanders. But
and France against Germany in Belgium. Labourers from South Africa, increasingly the ordinary soldier has taken centre stage. And we
China and Vietnam were sent to work on the Western Front. Men from the should not forget the civilians – women, older men, and children –
far reaches of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires battled each whose support for the war was critical. As historians are increasingly
other in the Carpathians. realizing, home front and battle front were closely intertwined.
The war continues to affect us. In Britain, opinion is sharply polarized This book enables us to explore the First World War through text,
between those who see the war as a monstrous tragedy which should pictures and memorabilia. I hope that it gives readers some idea of the
never have happened, and those who agree it was a tragedy but say that it issues at stake, the strategies, tactics and battles, and the lives of the
was not of Britain’s making and Britain had no choice but to get involved. people who were there.
From a French or German perspective it can be seen as the second round
GARY SHEFFIELD, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
in a Franco-German war that began in 1870 and only ended in 1945. An
American might view it as the moment when the USA finally stepped onto March 2014
the world stage; an Australian, New Zealander or Canadian as the time
when their nations began to emerge from under the protective wing of OPPOSITE: Soldiers from 2nd Special Regiment at
the Guet Post in the frontline trenches in front of
the mother country. Citizens of states such as Poland, the Czech Republic L a Pompelle in 1916.
and Latvia can look back to 1914–18 as the beginning of, in some cases an BELOW: Canadian troops guard German prisoners
extremely prolonged, process of achieving national self determination. The as they use a stretcher and a light railway truck to
transport wounded soldiers to get medical
powder keg that is the modern Middle East has its origins in British and attention, Vimy Ridge, April 1917.
8

The First World War
SLIDE TOWARDS CONFLICT
SUN 28 JUN 1914 – TUE 04 AUG 1914
The origins of the war
T
he events that plunged Europe into war 1870–71 had destroyed the existing international
in 1914 moved with speed. On 28 June, balance of power. But Germany, despite its ever Otto von Bismarck
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria- increasing economic power, chose, under the
(1815–98)
Hungary was assassinated by a young Serb, leadership of the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto von
Gavrilo Princip. A month later, Austria declared Bismarck, to live within the new situation it had
war on Serbia, which Vienna blamed for the created, and to avoid threatening its neighbours,
murder, and by 5 August the major states of while keeping France isolated. All this changed
Europe were at war. The immediate trigger for when the young and mentally unbalanced
the First World War was thus rivalry between Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the throne in 1888.
states in the Balkans. Russia backed Serbia, the In 1890 Wilhelm dismissed Bismarck, and
latter state posing as the protector of the Serbs the system of treaties that the Chancellor had
in the polyglot Habsburg Empire. Austria risked carefully constructed to protect Germany began
war with Russia to preserve its infl uence in the to unravel. Wilhelm’s bellicose Weltpolitik
Balkans, having received on 5 July a promise of (world policy) led to diplomatic encirclement, Bismarck was instrumental in uniting the
support from its ally Germany. Russia, alarmed having thoroughly frightened Britain, France disparate German states into an empire under the
by the threat to its security and prestige, and Russia. The British government abandoned leadership of Prussia. He used a series of wars
mobilized its forces, followed by Germany its policy of non-alignment and established an against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France
(1870–71) to establish the new state, with the King
and then France, Russia’s ally since 1892. The Entente – although not a formal alliance – with
of Prussia being proclaimed as Kaiser (Emperor)
German attack on Belgium on 4 August brought France and Russia in 1904.
Wilhelm I in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in
Britain into the war. In retrospect, the war By 1914, Germany had backed itself into a
1871. Bismarck’s subtle diplomatic skills, which
seemed to many to be almost accidental, with corner. Many historians agree Germany took
played a large part in keeping Europe at peace in
states slipping into an unwanted confl ict.
the last quarter of the nineteenth century, were
BELOW: Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie are
However, there were wider issues at play. photographed getting into a car just minutes before missed after his dismissal by Wilhelm II in 1890.
The German defeat of Napoleon III’s France in their murder by Gavrilo Princip (inset left).
ABOVE MIDDLE: Napoleon III led France to a
humiliating defeat by Germany in 1870–71. Desire
for revenge was a factor in 1914.
ABOVE: Admiral von Tirpitz masterminded the
creation of the fleet that turned Germany into a
great naval power but alarmed the British.
10